A recent study, first published in May 2020 [DOI: 10.1017/S0954579419000270], draws attention to the differential physiological responses of mothers to their children’s compliance behavior, with particular focus on those with a history of child maltreatment. The groundbreaking research, conducted by a dedicated team from the University of Oregon, including Norman Wells, Jessica J., Elizabeth A. Skowron, Carolyn M. Scholtes, and David S. DeGarmo, has revealed important insights into the parenting dynamics and the unique challenges faced by mothers with a history of maltreatment.
The study, supported by several NIH grants [NIH P50 DA035763, R01 DA036533, R01 MH079328], aimed to examine the time-ordered associations between the compliance behaviors of preschool-aged children and maternal respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), an indicator of the body’s parasympathetic response associated with stress and emotional regulation. The findings were published in the journal “Development and Psychopathology.”
The Research Framework
Researchers gathered data from 127 child-maltreating mothers, including those with a history of physical abuse, physical neglect, and emotional abuse, and compared it with data from 94 non-maltreating mothers. Through multilevel modeling (MLM), child behavior and mother RSA were longitudinally nested within-person, considering child maltreatment subtype and inconsistent parenting as moderators.
The collaboration closely monitored child prosocial (positive) and aversive (negative) compliance behaviors and the respective physiological responses of mothers in a controlled setting, during a joint challenge task. Prosocial behaviors are often seen as cooperative and constructive actions, while aversive behaviors are generally challenging or defiant.
Key Observations and Results
A significant outcome of the research was the discovery that increases in children’s prosocial compliance behaviors were associated with different physiological responses in maltreating versus non-maltreating mothers. Specifically, physically abusive mothers experienced decreases in RSA after their children’s proactive compliance, indicating increased physiological arousal or stress. In stark contrast, non-maltreating mothers’ RSA increased, reflecting a state of calmness and relaxation.
Additionally, parenting style played a role in these dynamics. Maternal responses to child compliance were moderated by the level of inconsistent parenting, characterized by oscillation between autonomy-supportive and strictly controlling behaviors. Such inconsistency attenuated the positive effects of child prosocial compliance on maternal RSA.
Implications and Interpretations
The results underscore the necessity to address individual differences in parents’ physiological sensitivity to their children’s behaviors, especially when tailoring interventions across different risk spectrums. As elucidated by Wells and his team, varying reactions to child compliance can have broader implications for the development of coercive interaction cycles within families.
Challenges and Recommendations
The research sheds light on the nuanced and complex nature of parenting dynamics, particularly concerning physiological processes playing out beneath the surface. According to Skowron and colleagues, understanding these physiological underpinnings is paramount for developing effective intervention strategies.
While the study is notable for its detailed analysis and significant findings, some limitations exist. Future studies may benefit from a larger sample size and inclusion of fathers to obtain a fuller picture of familial interactions.
Conclusion
The University of Oregon’s study offers an invaluable contribution to the field of developmental psychopathology by illustrating how child behavior can influence maternal physiology, with consequential effects on child development and family functioning.
References
1. Wells, N. J., Skowron, E. A., Scholtes, C. M., & DeGarmo, D. S. (2020). Differential physiological sensitivity to child compliance behaviors in abusing, neglectful, and non-maltreating mothers. Development and Psychopathology, 32(2), 531-543. DOI: 10.1017/S0954579419000270
2. Beauchaine, T. P., & Thayer, J. F. (2015). Heart rate variability as a transdiagnostic biomarker of psychopathology. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 98, 338-350. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2015.08.004
3. Cicchetti, D., & Lynch, M. (1993). Toward an ecological/transactional model of community violence and child maltreatment: Consequences for children’s development. Psychiatry, 56, 96-118.
4. Porges, S. W. (2001). The polyvagal theory: phylogenetic substrates of a social nervous system. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 42, 123-146.
5. Belsky, J. (1984). The determinants of parenting: A process model. Child Development, 55, 83-96.
Keywords
1. Child Compliance Behavior
2. Maternal Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia
3. Child Maltreatment
4. Parenting Styles
5. Psychophysiological Research